Southwest
Social media frenzy about GOP congresswoman living in retirement facility: 'Compelling case for term limits'
The news that Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, has been living in a retirement facility and experiencing a “very rapid” decline set off a social media outcry this week across the political spectrum.
Among these voices included billionaire Elon Musk, a key adviser and supporter of President-elect Donald Trump.
“Maybe we should have some basic cognitive test for elected officials? This is getting crazy …” Musk said, in reference to the news about Granger.
RETIRING GOP CONGRESSWOMAN’S DECLINE HAS BEEN ‘VERY RAPID,’ SON SAYS
Elon Musk said there should be a basic cognitive test for public officials. (Michael Swensen/Getty Images)
Former Department of Education press secretary Angela Morabito said Granger’s staff was possibly “complicit.”
“WOW: Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX), who hasn’t voted on a bill in six months, has been living in a nursing home in secret. Records show she has a staff of 25. If any of them knew – and it would be hard not to know – they are complicit,” Morabito shared on X.
Former Texas state representative Jonathan Stickland also commented about Granger, expressing that he was aware of her memory issues.
“No one should be mad at Rep. Kay Granger. Six years ago (as an elected official who worked regularly with/around her) it was obvious she had serious memory issues. She has had no idea what was going on for a while. Yet her friends, family, and staff lied to her. They failed to protect her, and left her in office for their own benefit. Be mad at them. Praying for peace for Rep. Granger,” Stickland posted.
Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee said the news about Granger marked a “compelling case for term limits.”
Granger’s absence was first reported by the Dallas Express on Friday, which quoted a constituent of her district who said she was residing in a memory care facility in Texas.
BIDEN ADMIN OFFICIALS NOTICED STAMINA ISSUES IN PRESIDENT’S FIRST FEW MONTHS IN OFFICE: REPORT
Axios political reporter Hans Nichols admitted to missing the story about Granger due to limited resources for journalists on CNN Monday.
“[We] … have limited resources and limited time to report all these stories out. That said, we should have gotten the Kay Granger story. I mean, I’ll own part of that, as someone that spends some time on the Hill. You know, collectively we’re all guilty. Like, you know, individually, it’s hard to parse out guilt,” Nichols said.
Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, leaves the House Republicans’ caucus meeting at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington in 2023. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
The Granger story comes after a year that was defined by President Biden’s cognitive and mental fitness issues that ultimately led to him being forced out of the Democratic nomination. Reports have emerged of a coordinated effort to conceal his diminishment from the public.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who repeatedly dismissed questions about Biden’s ability to serve, told CNN in June 2022 that she herself had a hard time keeping up with the president.
“Don, you’re asking me this question,” a visibly stunned Jean-Pierre exclaimed. “Oh my gosh. He’s the President of the United States.”
DON LEMON SPARS WITH TIKTOKER OVER ‘PRESIDENT MUSK’ ACCUSATION
Social media erupted on Monday after President Biden announced he would commute the sentences of nearly all the inmates on federal death row. (AP )
Executive director for Women for America First, Kylie Jane Kremer, wrote on X, “Not just leadership but all colleagues that were aware. Just as we are outraged about Biden, there should be equal outrage about Kay Granger.”
Members of Biden’s staff noticed his fading stamina and increasing confusion within the first few months of his term, according to a new report from the Wall Street Journal.
The Journal based its report on interviews with nearly 50 people, including current and former White House staffers who interacted directly with the president, as well as lawmakers.
California Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna said on X that that Congress had a “sclerotic gerontocracy.”
“Kay Granger’s long absence reveals the problem with a Congress that rewards seniority & relationships more than merit & ideas. We have a sclerotic gerontocracy. We need term limits. We need to get big money out of politics, so a new generation of Americans can run and serve,” Khann posted.
Retiring Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, at the unveiling of her portrait as Appropriations Committee Chairwoman in Washington, D.C. (The Office of Kay Granger)
Progressive independent journalist Ken Klippenstein posted in reference to a video of Granger speaking on the House floor, earlier in 2024.
“The claim that no one knew about congresswoman Kay Granger’s dementia is laughable. Here she is speaking before Congress back in March, stammering and stumbling over every sentence while relying verbatim on a written script. This is painful to watch,” Klippenstein shared.
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Granger, who is 81, did not seek re-election and is retiring at the end of this congressional term next month. She has largely remained absent from the Capitol in recent months, having last cast a vote on July 24. She was not present for over 54% of votes this year. She also stepped down from her position within the House Appropriations Committee, which drafts the bills that fund the federal government.
Granger’s office did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Fox News’ Hanna Panreck, Anders Hagstrom, Stephen Sorace and Chad Pergram contributed to this report.
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Multiple fatalities reported as Mexican Navy plane crashes off Texas coast, recovery effort underway
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A Mexican Navy aircraft conducting a medical support mission crashed near the Galveston Causeway in Texas on Monday, prompting a multi-agency response from local law enforcement and Texas officials as investigators began working to determine the cause.
The Mexican Navy secretary said on X that one of the Navy’s planes was conducting a medical mission in coordination with the Michou and Mau Foundation when it experienced an incident during its approach near Galveston, Texas.
The Mexican Navy said in a statement that the aircraft involved was a King Air ANX 1209.
HELICOPTER CRASH CLOSES MAJOR SACRAMENTO HIGHWAY, SENDING MULTIPLE PEOPLE TO LOCAL HOSPITALS
Galveston Bay connects Houston, Texas to the Gulf Of Mexico. (Gallo Images/Orbital Horizon/Copernicus Sentinel Data 2023)
According to the Mexican Navy, eight people were on board the aircraft – four naval crew members and four civilians – when it crashed during its approach near Galveston.
Search and rescue protocols were immediately activated following the crash in coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard, which has rescued six people so far. Four were found alive, while two deaths have been confirmed. Efforts remain underway to rescue two additional people still believed to be inside the wreckage, the Mexican Navy said.
EX-NASCAR STAR GREG BIFFLE’S DEADLY PLANE CRASH RECALLS SEVERAL AVIATION TRAGEDIES TO HIT SPORTS WORLD
A Mexican Navy aircraft conducting a medical support mission crashed near the Galveston Causeway, triggering a multi-agency response and investigation. (Credit: KRIV)
According to the Michou and Mau Foundation’s website, its vision is to “provide assistance so that children with severe burns have the best advanced treatment programs and multidisciplinary care.”
The Mexican Navy added that search and rescue efforts were immediately activated in coordination with local authorities.
The Galveston County Sheriff’s Office said its personnel also responded to the plane crash near the base of the causeway.
US GOVERNMENT ADMITS FAULT IN DEADLY POTOMAC RIVER COLLISION THAT KILLED 67 PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON DC
A Mexican Navy aircraft conducting a medical support mission crashed near the Galveston Causeway, triggering a multi-agency response and investigation. (Credit: KRIV)
“Sheriff’s Office personnel, including the dive team, crime scene unit, drone unit and patrol are assisting at the scene,” the sheriff’s office said, adding that the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is leading the crash investigation with the help of the sheriff’s office and Galveston Police Department.
Fox News Digital has reached out to DPS and the Michou and Mau Foundation for additional information about the crash.
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Search and recovery efforts are underway as the investigation continues.
This is a developing story.
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Southwest
Multiple people, including pregnant woman, struck by alleged drunk driver at Navajo Nation Christmas parade
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An alleged drunk driver struck multiple people at a Christmas parade on the Navajo Nation in Arizona on Monday, according to officials.
The Navajo Police Department said officers responded at about 5 p.m. after four people were struck by a driver who was allegedly intoxicated. The driver drove into the parade route as bystanders were waiting for it to start.
Police confirmed “life was [lost] during this tragic event as family gathered for this joyous occasion to brighten the holiday season.”
DRUNK DRIVER PLEADS GUILTY TO CRASH THAT KILLED VIKINGS’ KHYREE JACKSON
Police confirmed “life was [lost] during this tragic event as family gathered for this joyous occasion to brighten the holiday season.” (Navajo Police Department)
Damages to vehicles and property were also reported.
The driver was arrested and transported to the local Department of Corrections.
“A tragic event during the holidays can change someone’s life and hurt families across the Navajo Nation,” police wrote on Facebook. “If you see someone who may be impaired, take their keys, help them get home safely, or call your local Navajo Police Department.”
TRUCK DRIVER ARRESTED ON HOMICIDE CHARGES IN FIERY WRECK THAT KILLED 8 FAMILY MEMBERS
The driver was arrested and transported to the local Department of Corrections. (Navajo Police)
The incident remains under investigation. The FBI and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigation are assisting Navajo police in the investigation.
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said the people hit by the vehicle include a “young person” who remains in critical condition and a pregnant woman.
“This event was meant to bring joy, unity, and holiday spirit to our community—and is a time for families to come together and celebrate,” Nygren wrote on Facebook. “No one should have to experience tragedy during a season meant for love and togetherness.”
The FBI and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigation are assisting Navajo Police in the investigation. (Getty Images)
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Kayenta Township said “an accident occurred along Navajo Route 591 near the Kayenta Rodeo Grounds.”
“Our primary concern is the well-being of those affected. We ask that you keep them and their families in your thoughts and prayers,” the community wrote on its Facebook page.
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Southwest
GOP governor lays out plan to ‘purge’ terrorists and terror supporters from state
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After designating two prominent Islamic groups “foreign terrorist organizations,” Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott gave insight into his plan to “purge” both terrorists and terror supporters from his state.
Abbott, who is a close ally of President Donald Trump and is running for a fourth term as governor, recently issued a proclamation designating the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Muslim Brotherhood as “foreign terrorist organizations” and “transnational criminal organizations” under Texas law.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Abbott explained that the designation means that CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood and their affiliates are prohibited from purchasing or acquiring land in Texas. The proclamation also authorizes state agencies to take heightened enforcement measures and legal action against the two organizations.
In response, two Texas CAIR chapters filed a federal lawsuit against Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, arguing that the proclamation violates the U.S. Constitution by exceeding state authority and infringing on due process rights.
TEXAS GOV ABBOTT DECLARES CAIR, MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD AS TERRORIST GROUPS, PREVENTING LAND PURCHASES
Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott designated CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations. (Getty Images)
Abbott, however, appeared undaunted.
He said that the “very important point” of his actions is to show that “when we as a state or we as a country step up and show there are legal consequences for you trying to violate religious freedom, when you try to impose your religion on somebody else, or whether you may be supporting some type of terror group, that there’s going to be consequences to it, that you will be brought into a court of law and be held accountable.”
“Any organization that supports terrorism, that harbors people who have provided material support for terrorism, is not allowed to exist in our state,” said Abbott, adding, “We will purge them from our state, they should be purged from our country, and they definitely should not be receiving tax-exempt status in our country.”
Shortly after Abbott’s proclamation, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order similarly designating CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations. The order bars the groups from receiving state contracts, funding, employment, or benefits, and prohibits state agencies from working with them or entities deemed to support them.
Additionally, Trump signed an executive order initiating the federal process for several Muslim Brotherhood chapters to be designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
On Dec. 2, Abbott sent a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent requesting the suspension of CAIR’s tax-exempt status.
MUSLIM GROUPS, OTHER LEADERS DEMAND ABBOTT RESCIND CAIR’S ‘TERRORIST’ DESIGNATION: ‘DEFAMATORY’
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has also designated CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations. (Rebecca Blackwell, File/AP Photo)
Though CAIR has pushed back, calling Abbott’s claims false, the governor said, “If they don’t want to be labeled a terrorist, they have to stop supporting terrorism. It’s that simple.”
He said that both the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR have a “long, well-established history with terrorism.” He pointed to CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad, reportedly speaking highly of the Oct. 7 terror attacks in Israel and the Dallas-Fort Worth CAIR chapter advocating on behalf of Marwan Marouf, a Jordanian national set to be deported by ICE after allegedly making donations to a charity known to funnel money to Hamas.
“There’s a massive difference between religion and terrorism,” said Abbott. “It doesn’t matter what religious belief you may believe in or adhere to, if you support terrorism in any way, that is a crime, it has to be rooted out, has to eliminated, I don’t care who you are or what religion you’re a part of.”
In response, Edward Ahmed Mitchell, deputy director of CAIR, shot back at Abbott. In a statement sent to Fox News Digital, Mitchell said that “Governor Abbott is an Israel First politician who has spent years trying to smear and silence Texans who oppose the waste of American taxpayer dollars on the Israeli government’s war crimes.”
Mitchell said that “CAIR is an independent American civil rights organization that has spent 31 years speaking up against all forms of unjust violence, including hate crimes, terrorism, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and genocide.”
“In fact, CAIR condemned terrorism so often that ISIS called for the assassination of our leadership,” said Mitchell.
TRUMP MOVES AGAINST MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD AS ISLAMIST GROUP SPREADS IN WEST
Supporters of Jordan’s Muslim Brotherhood take part in a protest in the village of Sweimeh, near the Jordanian border with the occupied West Bank, on May 21, 2021. (Khalil Mazraawi/AFP via Getty Images)
“CAIR has strongly condemned the Israeli government’s decades of violent oppression against the Palestinian people, and CAIR has also condemned Hamas violence against Israeli civilians, from suicide bombings in the 1990s to attacks on Oct. 7th. That’s called moral consistency, something Greg Abbott and other supporters of the Gaza genocide know nothing about,” he went on, adding, “Abbott is upset with CAIR because our civil rights group filed the lawsuits that defeated his last three attempts to shred the First Amendment for the benefit of the Israeli government.”
“We are suing Governor Abbott again now to block his lawless proclamation and we look forward to defeating him for the fourth time in a row, God willing, so that we can protect the constitutional rights of all Americans,” he said.
The Muslim Brotherhood did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment by the time of publication.
On what other actions he will take next to crack down on terrorism in Texas, Abbott hinted there will be more coming from the Lone Star State on his border enforcement strategies.
“During my next term as governor, Trump will no longer be president. So, while he’s working for the next three years to secure the border, we’re going to be in the process of working for the next three decades to ensure that we have a secure border,” he explained.
COTTON CALLS ON IRS TO PULL MUSLIM ADVOCACY GROUP’S NONPROFIT STATUS
Texas law enforcement patrols the border between the U.S. and Mexico. (Fox News)
“In the next session, we’re going to be going back to the drawing board and finding out what works, what needs to be augmented, what we must do to continue the safe and secure border practices we have now, knowing this also that must be underscored.
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“Look at all the people who in the United States are killing others, committing crimes to others, who are here illegally,” he said. “The shooter at Brown, the murderer of the people at Brown University as well as at MIT, was here on a green card, unvetted. The shooter of the National Guard in Washington, D.C., here illegally, unvetted, was an Afghan. And then, an example here in Houston, Texas, just recently, there was an illegal immigrant who was arrested for murder. It turned out he had committed multiple murders in the Houston area, completely unvetted.”
“We as a country, and Texas as a state, we have to be much more demanding as it concerns who is entering our country. Are they safe for our country? Should they be allowed in? Americans deserve that brand of safety.”
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